A stunning comeback, three red cards and a stoppage-time winning penalty: Atalanta’s 4-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the play-offs on Wednesday night was not without entertainment. With an efficient performance, the Bergamo club reached the last 16 of the Champions League and once again faced German opponents. Find out here what Bayern Munich can expect against head coach Rafael Palladino’s side.
🎫 Tickets for both legs of the match against Atalanta are already available in the online store.
Atlanta’s current status
Atalanta are competing for a European spot in Serie A. Having played 26 games, radiya Ranked seventh, they have the same points as sixth-ranked Como and only one point behind fifth-ranked Juventus. Palladino’s side have not lost in the league since the start of the year, so they should have high hopes of competing in European football again next season. With recent wins over Napoli (2-1), Juventus (3-0) and Roma (1-0) – all teams above them in the table – the Bergamo club have proven in impressive fashion that they can beat Italy’s top teams. Bayern should be warned.
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Lineup: Lots of household names
Between veterans and young players, Atlanta has several players in the prime of their careers. Take Nikola Korstovich for example: the 26-year-old is currently the team’s top scorer with seven goals in Serie A. Bayern’s defense will also keep a close eye on Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca (27), who has scored six goals. Although star Ademola Lookman moved to Atletico Madrid in the winter, Atlanta does not need to worry about a lack of offensive power. There is also Berlin-born 24-year-old Lazar Samardzic, who has scored three goals in eight Champions League games this season. The former Hertha Berlin and Leipzig midfielder scored a perfect penalty against Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the play-offs.
Coach Palladino has coped well with the absence of key pair Charles de Cotrare (24) and Giacomo Raspadori (26) due to injury as he goes on a nine-game unbeaten run in the league. Looking at the defence, some familiar names stand out in the Bundesliga: former Schalke player Sead Kolasinac (32) is the leader of the “Goddess”, while 25-year-old Odilon Kosonu joined from Bayer 04 Leverkusen last summer. Midfielder Mitchell Buck (25) has also previously played for Werkself. Germany international Robin Gosens played 157 games for Atalanta between 2017 and 2022.
greatest success
Atalanta celebrated the greatest success in the club’s history in the 2023/24 season, as Lookman and his teammates defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the final to win the Europa League. In addition to one Serie C title and five Serie B titles, the Lombardy club’s trophy cabinet also includes an Italian Cup since 1963. Since the 2016/17 season, Atalanta have appeared regularly in European competitions. Now they face Bayern Munich on the big stage for the first time – let the knockout stages begin!
